A blueberry cultivation project on Matakana Island, New Zealand, attracted industry attention with a visit from Ridley Bell, a prominent figure in Australia's blueberry industry and founder of Mountain Blue Orchards. Bell's visit marked his first to the 2-hectare farm, managed by Des Samuels, featuring nearly 11,000 plants of Australian-bred varieties.
Following a whakatau welcome, Bell assessed the farm's cultivation techniques under the island's specific climatic conditions. Samuel expressed the value of Bell's insights: "What we learned from Ridley was great. Some of it can be a game-changer for us." He acknowledged Bell's extensive experience, underscoring the importance of learning advanced cultivation techniques, such as young plant care and strategic fruit removal.
The Tauranga-based global berry marketer BerryCo NZ licenses Mountain Blue's varieties, including Eureka and Eureka Sunrise, marketed as Blue Royal in New Zealand and Southeast Asia. The farm on Matakana Island exports as far afield as Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Bell emphasized a no-secrets approach, sharing his strategies freely: "We have made a point of being as open as possible in our company, and we found it has never hurt us, it has always benefited us." He highlighted the cross-cultural connections shared with Samuels, including an unexpected historical link to Tabulam, Australia.
Both growers extend their impact beyond agriculture. Samuel conducts school camps aimed at reconnecting children with nature, while Bell collaborates with World Vision on healthcare projects and local humanitarian efforts in Australia. Bell recognized the social contributions, noting, "I can see their hearts are in the right place and that's important to me."
Source: SunLive